Judge orders landowner to clean up Applewhite tire dump site

AUSTIN – A state judge has ruled in favor of the state of Texas and given a South Side landowner 180 days to cleanup a tire dump site.

The state of Texas has requested injunctive relief from the courts to order Eclipse Renewables, LLC to begin removal and proper disposal of nearly 2 million tires illegally dumped at the Applewhite Safe Tire Facility.

The tires have been a big concern for nearby residents who said the area is a mosquito breeding ground.

"Only the brave ones come out and they deal with it. You'll be scratching and scratching. Some of us just stay inside. We don't want to deal with the mosquitoes," said nearby resident Jesse Venegas.

Other residents fear there could be a tire fire if the property isn't cleaned up.

"Somebody can easily throw a cigarette or a match or something, and then with how hot it is outside, you have to think about all that grass burning," said volunteer firefighter and nearby resident, Demontrale Lewis.

The judge ordered the company to begin removing at least 1,000 tons of tires within 60 days.

Residents hope the issue is resolved and hope the community will benefit.

"An apartment complex, a closer store or a nice restaurant or a park or a city pool or something," Lewis said about the things that could be in the tire dump’s place.